Lift Up Connections: Rethinking Work. Reimagining Life.

Christine Perfetti
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Rethinking work. Reimagining life. Lift Up Connections is a podcast about what happens when the old definitions of work, success, and a well-lived life no longer quite fit. Hosted by Christine Perfetti, social psychologist and founder of Lift Up Connections, the podcast features honest conversations with people navigating reinvention—rethinking their careers, identities, relationships, priorities, and what they want from the next chapter of their lives. You’ll hear stories of career pivots, portfolio lives, new beginnings, changing definitions of success and abundance, and the messy middle that comes with creating something new. At Lift Up Connections, we believe there isn’t one right way to build a career—or a life. We get curious. We experiment. We question the paths we thought we were supposed to follow. And we create lives that feel more fully our own

  1. 2d ago

    True Crime, Coffee and UX: How Rob Fitzgibbon Built a Career Around Curiosity

    Rob Fitzgibbon spent decades building a successful career in UX and design. But over time, other parts of him began asking for more of his focus: his fascination with history, love of research and storytelling, curiosity about how people experience the world, and coffee. Today, Rob’s work spans UX consulting, true-crime writing, local history, and a growing coffee-cupping business. His story is a fantastic example of what it can look like to build a more expansive career one experiment at a time. In this conversation, we talk about the skills that travel with us from one chapter to another, what happens when the professional identity we’ve relied on begins to shift, why connection matters more than ever in an uncertain career landscape, and the very practical reality of turning an interest into something that can  generate income. And most importantly, we talk about learning to trust the moments when something inside you says: This is how I want to do it. Episode Notes Follow Rob on LinkedIn: Rob's new book, Murder in Salem Massachusetts: The Death of Francis Cochran

  2. Sep 18

    From Meta Research Leader to Death Doula: Finding the Thread in Your Next Act with Beth Lingard

    Beth Lingard spent years leading research and product work, most recently at Meta. Now, she’s exploring a very different path: becoming a death doula. This episode is about what happens when you start paying attention to the deeper threads in your life and begin building around the parts of yourself that feel most alive. Beth and Christine talk about mortality, grief, community, AI, portfolio careers, and process of figuring out what comes next. Beth shares how she moved from feeling isolated in corporate life to recognizing community as a lifelong North Star, why she thinks of midlife as a “rebirth,” and how her years in research are shaping the work she wants to do now. They also explore what it means to redefine wealth around time, connection, flexibility, family, and presence and how small experiments can help you discover a next chapter before you have the complete vision. This is a conversation about building a life that feels expansive, connected, and fully your own. Episode Notes: Death Doula and Grief resources:  Mad Beautiful Art Until the End: YouTube video that inspired The Legacy Party  More about Beth's Legacy Party Article Beth wrote about her Death Doula training experience National End of Life Doula Alliance (NEDA) Francis Weller: Grief expert and his book, The Wild Edge of Sorrow Beth's Writing Beth's personal writing Excerpts from the User Research book Beth is writing with Elissa Darnell Beth's article on how User Research skills are transferable

  3. Mar 26

    Making Sense of the Mess with Abby Covert: Information Architecture, Community, and Redefining Success

    What happens when the career path you’ve built no longer aligns with the life you want? In this episode, Christine sits down with Abby Covert, information architecture expert, author, and founder of the Sense Makers Club, to explore what it means to walk away from traditional definitions of success and build something new. After years of working in tech and teaching information architecture around the world, Abby made the decision in 2020 to leave her corporate role and create space to figure out what was next. What emerged was the Sensemakers Club, an evolving, community-driven experiment in learning, curiosity, and connection. Christine and Abby discuss:  Why “making sense” is an ongoing process, not a fixed outcome How community creates confidence, not just connection The reality of leaving (or staying in) tech in today’s market The tension between values-driven work and financial sustainability Why many mid-career professionals may need to build beyond a single job What it means to redefine success on your own terms This conversation is deeply relevant for anyone questioning their path, navigating uncertainty, or trying to design a more expansive and aligned life.

    Making Sense of the Mess with Abby Covert: Information Architecture, Community, and Redefining Success

  4. Mar 15

    The Long View of IA with Karen McGrane: Career Reinvention, Reputation, and a Changing Industry

    What does a long career in information architecture and UX teach us about navigating industry change? In this episode, Christine Perfetti speaks with UX and content strategy leader Karen McGrane about reputation, career reinvention, and adapting to shifts in the tech industry. Karen shares lessons from decades in consulting, the impact of the recent consulting downturn, and why she recently made the unexpected move back in-house at Contentful. They also discuss hiring in today’s market, the importance of professional networks, and why many experienced professionals are beginning to think in terms of portfolio careers. Karen will be speaking at the Information Architecture Conference (IAC26) in Philadelphia, April 14–18, 2026. Use the code liftup for $50 off the main conference registration. Learn more: https://www.theiaconference.com

  5. Feb 26

    The Vision Was Given to You: Kenyetta Hall on Mindset, Managed Risk, and Building Your Own Table

    In mid-career, many of us reach a moment where the old definition of success no longer fits. but the next one isn’t fully clear yet. In this conversation, I sit down with Kenyetta Hall, product leader, professor at UNC Chapel Hill, advisor to founders, and creator of The Katalyst Effect to talk about what it really takes to pivot with clarity and confidence. We explore: Why “the vision was given to you” and doesn’t require outside validation The difference between taking reckless risks and managing risk strategically How to meet your organization’s definition of success without overextending yourself Kenyetta's Six M Framework (Mindset, Mission, Motivation, Movement, Money, and Management) Why baseline financial clarity matters before you can think expansively The power of a tactical pause to reflect, reset, and reimagine what’s next This is not a conversation about quitting your job overnight. It’s about building your own table thoughtfully.

  6. Feb 18

    The Product of You: Designing What’s Next in the Messy Middle with Sarah Doody

    What if the greatest product you’ll ever work on is you? In this candid and deeply honest conversation, Christine sits down with career strategist and UX leader Sarah Doody to talk about what it really takes to navigate mid-career uncertainty, especially in today’s volatile tech landscape. They explore: Why mid-career professionals (not just juniors) are struggling right now How to distinguish between a qualifications problem and a positioning problem The myth of “terminal uniqueness” and why your nonlinear career is not a liability How to optimize your LinkedIn presence strategically (not generically) Whether you really need a connection to get hired How mindset and action work together And what it looks like to build resilience when life and business feel like a “shit show” Sarah also shares openly about her own recent challenges and offers a rare and refreshing glimpse behind the curtain of entrepreneurship. This episode is for mid-career and midlife women who are: Considering a pivot Questioning their relevance Navigating layoffs or stagnation Or simply asking, “What’s next for me?”

  7. Jan 14

    Climbing Out of Burnout: Mount Kilimanjaro, Reinvention, and Choosing an Expansive Life with Mugdha Kulkarni

    In this deeply honest episode, Christine Perfetti sits down with Mugdha Kulkarni to explore what happens when your body finally says enough. A former Amazon engineering leader, Mugdha shares her journey through burnout, a life-altering panic attack, the healing power of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, and the brave decision to walk away from corporate life to rebuild a life rooted in health, creativity, and meaning. If you’re standing at the edge of change, this conversation will meet you there. You can learn more about Mugdha's new business, Thyme for Something Sweet on Instagram.

  8. 12/15/2025

    Career Reinvention: When Your Body Knows Before Your Mind Does with Roberta Dombrowski

    What happens when your body starts telling you the truth before your career does? In this deeply honest and grounding conversation, Christine Perfetti sits down with Roberta Dombrowski, a coach, meditation teacher, and former VP of UX Research, to talk about reinvention, intuition, motherhood, and the courage it takes to leave behind a version of success that no longer fits. Roberta shares her own journey from senior leadership in tech to coaching women through identity shifts, including the painful, nonlinear middle: layoffs, self-doubt, postpartum depression, and the temptation to return to what once felt safe. Christine and Roberta explore: Why so many high-achieving women hit a wake-up call in mid-career How listening to your nervous system can change everything The myth of “blowing up your career” to reinvent Why motherhood and caregiving complicate (but also clarify) career transitions How to move away from “shoulds” and toward what’s actually aligned What to do when fear, uncertainty, and grief show up along the way This episode is for women who look capable on the outside but feel misaligned on the inside and are ready to slow down, tune in, and take the next right step. Episode Notes:  Listen to Roberta's podcast, In Her Words Roberta's company, Learn Mindfully

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About

Rethinking work. Reimagining life. Lift Up Connections is a podcast about what happens when the old definitions of work, success, and a well-lived life no longer quite fit. Hosted by Christine Perfetti, social psychologist and founder of Lift Up Connections, the podcast features honest conversations with people navigating reinvention—rethinking their careers, identities, relationships, priorities, and what they want from the next chapter of their lives. You’ll hear stories of career pivots, portfolio lives, new beginnings, changing definitions of success and abundance, and the messy middle that comes with creating something new. At Lift Up Connections, we believe there isn’t one right way to build a career—or a life. We get curious. We experiment. We question the paths we thought we were supposed to follow. And we create lives that feel more fully our own

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